Hanoi starts work on F1 racetrack

Jean Todt, president of International Automobile Federation, poses at the groundbreaking ceremony of F1 racetrack in Hanoi. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy

The groundbreaking ceremony for the nation’s first F1 racetrack was held Wednesday in Hanoi.

Construction of the F1 track is scheduled to be completed in March 2020, in order to host the very first F1 Grand Prix a month later.

The 5.565 kilometers racetrack with 23 turns, designed by German firm Tilke and Formula 1 Group, will be a combination of public roads and a part of the My Dinh sports complex in Nam Tu Lien District.

"I think the best thing about this event is that it will awake the potential of Vietnam. They will be able to organize an F1 racetrack as iconic as Monte Carlo in Monaco, Silverstone in England or Monza in Italy," Jean Todt, president of International Automobile Federation (FIA), said at the groundbreaking ceremony.

"The vision of Vietnam being a regular on F1 racing fixtures in the next few years is amazing. I'm sure the racers will love it," he said.

He said the racetrack will be great for the development of auto racing in Vietnam as well as in the region, and it can hopefully be used for other racing tournaments as well.

"We love the (concept of) racing courses on city streets. Vietnam will be the latest street racetrack with stunning appearance and promises to bring the most passionate moments of auto racing to the world."

The F1 racetrack in Vietnam will be the fourth to combine both built tracks and city streets after Monaco, Singapore and Azerbaijan.

Vietnam will be the third Southeast Asian country to host a F1 race, following Malaysia and Singapore.

The F1 race in Hanoi will be held in April 2020 as a seven-day event, including parades, showcasing of racecars and other events. Streets will be barricaded for around four to five days before the racing event starts and traffic rerouted through other streets.

Hanoi has already signed a 10-year contract to host the race, and it could be extended further in the eighth year.

F1 is the highest class of single-seater auto racing sanctioned by the International Automobile Federation. An F1 season consists of a series of races, which are held worldwide on purpose-built circuits and public roads.